Supreme Court fines Karnataka Rs 25 lakh for challenging Tejasvi Surya case order

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed the Karnataka government’s plea challenging the quashing of a criminal case against BJP MP Tejasvi Surya over his post on a farmer’s suicide. The court also imposed a cost of Rs 25 lakh on the state for bringing the matter to the top court.

A bench of Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice K Vinodchandran was hearing the state government’s appeal against the Karnataka High Court’s order that had quashed the FIR filed against Surya for allegedly spreading fake news about a farmer in Haveri district.

“What is this? Don’t politicise the matter. Fight your battles before the electorate. Dismissed with costs” the CJI remarked while rejecting the petition, as reported by Live Law.

On November 7, 2024, Surya had posted an article from Kannada news portals, claiming that farmer Rudrappa Channappa Balikai had died by suicide after his land was taken over by the Waqf Board. The post was later deleted when it emerged that the claim was incorrect.

The Haveri Superintendent of Police had clarified that Balikai’s suicide on January 6, 2022, was due to financial stress from crop losses and debts, and was unrelated to any Waqf Board dispute.

Following this, a suo-motu case was registered against Surya under Section 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) on November 7 for allegedly publishing statements intended to promote hatred, ill-will, or enmity between groups.

The Supreme Court, however, upheld the High Court’s quashing of the case and cautioned against using courts for political battles.

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